Trinamool cleanses ‘CPM sins’ before taking charge in West Midnapore

Before Uttara Singh took oath and charge as the sabhadhipati of West Midnapore zilla parishad, ‘Ganga jal’ was poured as she and other elected members of the zilla parishad from Trinamool reached the gate of the office.

The water was poured as a mark of purification as the board was run by CPI(M) earlier.

After taking charge as sabhadhipati, Singh, dedicating the win and the forming the board to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, said, “We are seeking everyone’s cooperation so that we can carry out development. Our chief minister is talking about development in all sectors.

We also promise that we will implement projects speedily and work towards development that will reach everybody.”

After the three-tier panchayat system was implemented in the state, like in other districts, the zilla parishad in West Midnapore district was run by the CPI(M) till the last election and now the Leader of the Opposition, CPI(M) leader Suryakanta Mishra, had served as the sabhadhipati of the zilla parishad.

However, this time, out of 67 seats, Trinamool won 64, Congress won one and CPI(M) only two seats.

On Tuesday, the members took oath and Singh took the charge as sabhadhipati.

Before the elected members came to the zilla parishad to take oath, a tableau and rally was taken out in the town. But the most interesting aspect was yet to come.

As Sinha, Samay Mandi, the saha-sabhadhipati, and other elected members reached the zilla parishad gate, and before they entered the complex, the water of Ganga River, taken in two drums, was poured and the members entered the complex after water was poured as a mark of ‘ suddikaran’ (purification).

When Singh and others were about to step on the stairs, someone said, “Didi daran, okhane harmadder rakto ache, dhuye diy” (Didi, please stop, there are blood marks made by harmads; before you enter we should wash the place with the sacred water) and she entered inside only after the place was washed with the water.

“We know that we face new responsibilities and no development was carried out by the CPI(M) when they were in power. Everyone knows what it did with the money allotted for development. So before we took charge, we carried out purification work by pouring the sacred water and now our journey for the good for the district started,” Singh said.

In the oath-taking programme, Bikash Bhuinya, the only elected zila parishad member from Congress, said, “The central government is allotting a good amount of money for the development of Jangalmahal area and we hope that now the money will be utilised properly.”

The Trinamool district leadership also arranged a “victory rally” at Midnapore College Field, near the zilla parishad complex where Mukul Roy, All-India general secretary of Trinamool Congress, was present.

“Now, we are in power in 13 zilla parishads. If we get the support of the people, in the coming Lok Sabha election too, the Trinamool will win and will play a crucial role in who will come to power and who will be the next Prime Minister. Mamata Banerjee will play a vital role,” Roy said.

He also said that the members and zilla parishad would work for the good for the people of the district, particularly for the people of Jangalmahal area.

“The state would not be divided and the hills would not be separated. Whatever Mr Gurung tries to do, peace will be restored in the area soon,” he said.